Not known to transmit any human or animal pathogens.

Not known to vector any pathogens or be associated with other organisms.

Hang plastic delta traps just above the height of the host plants. Place traps within the field or along the field border to avoid insecticide exposure.

4/22/2020: Visual inspection and black-light traps are no longer approved methods for survey. Sticky trap inserts (liner) with hard type adhesives are recommended for use in Crocidosema aporema CAPS surveys. Specimens from hard glue liners tend to be of higher quality, allowing identifiers to accurately pre-screen more specimens. The product name in the IPHIS survey Supply Catalog is Large Plastic Delta Trap - Liners - Hard Glue.

Attaching lures to traps

IMPORTANT: Do not include lures for other target species in the trap when surveying for this target.

In temperate regions of South America (latitude 31-34°S), C. aporema adults are active between September and April, coinciding with the start of spring to mid-autumn. Adult emergence and number of individuals observed closely corresponds to host phenology. Adults begin to emerge when the first trifoliate leaves (leaf comprising three leaflets) develop. Adult numbers peak as the plants transition from the vegetative stage to the flowering, or reproductive, stage and then taper off as pods develop. Since the number of generations vary based on weather and host availability, traps can be set once trifoliate leaves appear on legume crops.

Survey for C. aporema in legume crops, including soybean, lentil, peas, beans, and peanuts. Focus survey efforts in the legume crop(s) with greatest acreage - often soybean, or in areas that grow multiple legume crops at the same time.

Adult identification
 

• TortAI Adult Key for CAPS: http://idtools.org/id/leps/tortai/keys/TortAIAdults.html
• TortAI Crocidosema aporema factsheet for images of male and female genitalia: http://idtools.org/id/leps/tortai/Crocidosema_aporema.htm

Larval identification
 

• Identification key for larvae commonly intercepted at U.S. ports: http://idtools.org/id/leps/lepintercept/LepIntercept_TortricidKey.pdf
• LepIntercept factsheet for Crocidosema aporema larva: http://idtools.org/id/leps/lepintercept/aporema.html

The leaf-rolling behavior of C. aporema can be mistaken for that of Ecdytolopha fabivora. However, C. aporema attacks young leaflets, while E. fabivora is commonly found on fully developed leaves. Ecdytolopha fabivora is a legume pest found throughout Central and South America.

Other species of Crocidosema occur in the United States, especially in the southeast. Crocidosema plebejana looks similar but primarily infests mallow (Malvaceae). It is distributed throughout the world and in the United States; it is present across much of the southern United States. Crocidosema aporema is distinguished from other species of Crocidosema, like C. plebejana, by dissecting its female or male genitalia.

In the United States, species that may be found in traps that are most likely to be confused with C. aporema include Bactra verutana, Olethreutes spp., Pelochrista fiskeana, Proteoteras spp., Pseudexentera faracana, Gretchena spp., Epinotia spp., and Catastega spp.